The growing number of space launches is giving people more opportunities to witness impressive sights in the sky. This week, residents of Tijuana might catch one of these rare spectacles.
SpaceX Launch Ahead
SpaceX is preparing to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. With clear skies, the launch could be visible from Baja California.
The Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Tranche 1 mission is scheduled to lift off from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) on Tuesday, October 14, at 4:02 p.m. Pacific Time, with a backup window on Wednesday, October 15, at 4:03 p.m.
“After stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean,” SpaceX stated.
This launch is the second in a series of ten missions aimed at deploying SDA’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, a network of military data-relay satellites in low-Earth orbit. The system is designed to provide global tactical communication, as well as missile warning, indication, and tracking capabilities.
While the launch will be a sight to see, some Californians might also hear it. SpaceX has advised that residents in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties could hear one or more sonic booms during the landing phase, though the intensity will depend on weather conditions.
For Tijuana residents, the rocket’s flight could offer a spectacular show for sky-watchers along the border, provided weather conditions are favorable.
